Nabi remains optimistic despite tough pre-season as Kaizer Chiefs eye Toyota Cup boost

“I feel absolutely optimistic about the upcoming season.”

Nasreddine Nabi might be considered delusional by some for uttering those words. After all, what’s there to be optimistic about when Kaizer Chiefs endured a tough pre-season tour of the Netherlands, losing four out of their five matches?

Amakhosi managed just one win — a 20% return. Hardly cause for excitement, is it? But pre-season fixtures are not always about results.

For coaches, they are opportunities to build systems, test new combinations and lay the groundwork for the season ahead. For Nabi, his optimism comes from what he learned about his players during those five testing matches.

“We saw a lot of positives in our training matches against very strong Dutch opponents. The players have started to understand the way I want them to play, and they gel well as a strong unit,” the Tunisian, now entering his second season with Chiefs, told the club’s website.

While he ended Chiefs’ decade-long trophy drought by winning the Nedbank Cup last season, Nabi oversaw a forgettable league campaign that saw the Glamour Boys finish ninth. Improvement will be expected in the 2025/26 Betway Premiership season, and the Dutch tour, he believes, has set the right tone.

“One of the conditions of having a good season is having a good pre-season — that’s where the foundation is laid. We didn’t only want quality opponents,” Nabi explained.

“We also wanted quantity. Alongside that, we did some tough physical work at training, even doing double sessions the day before a match.

"We really pushed the guys hard in Holland. It was tough, extremely tough. However, they never complained — always giving their best. That was inspiring to see.”

He’ll be hoping that same inspired attitude carries into the Toyota Cup when Chiefs face Ghanaian giants Asante Kotoko at Durban’s Moses Mabhida Stadium on Saturday.

Unlike in The Netherlands, where Chiefs played in front of curious and enthusiastic European crowds, this weekend they will face the unforgiving scrutiny of an expectant home support. Chiefs fans are desperate for signs of revival — and the Nedbank Cup final victory over old foes Orlando Pirates at the same venue only added fuel to the fire of renewed hope.

With several new signings and the memory of last year’s Toyota Cup defeat to Tanzania’s Young Africans still fresh, nothing would lift the mood more than a commanding victory over Kotoko and keeping the trophy on home soil.

Nabi has had the opportunity to assess his new recruits — Nkanyiso Shinga, Ethan Chislett, Thabiso Monyane and Flavio Silva — during the European tour, and he likes what he sees.

“They need to fully gel with the group. However, they are all adapting nicely and are beginning to understand what I expect from them. Our objective was to sign new players who would elevate us to a higher level than last season.”

He also remains encouraged by the progress of the club’s development prospects.

“We don’t want to rush them,” Nabi said of Thulani Mabaso, Kabelo Nkgwesa and Naledi Hlongwane.

“I am always willing to give maximum opportunities to young talents. If you are good enough, you are old enough to play. That’s my philosophy.”

It will be interesting to see which of the new signings or emerging talents endear themselves to the Amakhosi faithful in the Toyota Cup. And just as intriguing: will Nabi still be feeling “absolutely optimistic about the upcoming season”?